Estonia is a Baltic gem offering visitors the chance to see a tiny dynamic land on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Glorious beaches pepper the extensive coastline, although the swimming season is short. After all, the Baltics are not renowned for warm weather - something that any visitor to Estonia must be aware of — the summer is short and the winter is severe.

Tallinn's medieval old town was built by German crusaders in the Late Middle Ages and is in magnificent condition, with the medieval city walls and towers almost completely intact and it rates as one of Europe's best preserved medieval old towns. Visitors can also experience an ex-Soviet occupied country that is now part of the European Union. Traces of the Soviet era are still there to be seen — e.g. Paldiski, a deserted Soviet army base that was once off-limits to Estonians themselves, can easily be visited on a day trip from the capital, Tallinn.

After 7 centuries of German, Danish, Swedish, Polish and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcefully annexed into the USSR in 1940, it re-gained independence in 1991 through its Singing Revolution [15], a non-violent revolution that overthrew an initially violent occupation.

Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia moved to promote economic and political ties with Western Europe. It is now one of the more-prosperous former communist states, enjoying a high-tech environment, an open and liberal economy and a transparent government system. On the other hand, it is faced with a fairly low (but growing) GDP per capita (in a European Union context), as well as a very low birth rate, which is creating a slight population decline. Between 1991-2007, the country saw rapid economic expansion, leading it to be among one of the wealthiest and the most developed of the former Soviet Republics. However, its economy was badly damaged during the ongoing global recession, although more recently, it has been recovering quickly. In 2011, the Euro was adopted as the official currency.

Since its accession to the EU, Estonia is becoming one of the most popular destinations in North-Eastern Europe with (EU highest) 30% growth in the number of visitors in 2004, according to Eurostat.

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Suur Munamägi 318m (in the south east of Estonia, 20km north of the main highway that runs from Riga to Russia close to the borders of Estonia with both countries).

Geography - note

the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore lie more than 1,500 islands and islets

Nature

World War 2 and the subsequent occupation were devastating on humans, but the destruction and the closure of large areas for military use actually increased Estonia's forest coverage from about 25% before the war to more than 50% by 1991. Wolves, bears, lynx, elks, deer as well as some rare bird and plant species are abundant in Estonia. The wild animals from Estonia are exported to some EU countries for forest re-population programmes. Most animals can be hunted - according to yearly quotas..

Independence Day (iseseisvuspäev): 24 February; it is celebrated on the first date of independence in 1918, when Estonia declared independence from Soviet Russia. Estonia also declared independence from the Soviet Union on 20 August 1991, which is celebrated as a public holiday. There is always a military parade somewhere in the country on 24 February, although the weather can be too cold for some to come and watch.

Estonia also celebrates several public holidays:

New Year's Day (uusaasta): 1 January; New Year's celebrations were promoted during the Soviet times, while Christmas was forbidden. After the restoration of independence, the significance of the New Year decreased, but it is still a celebrated as in the rest of the World.

Good Friday (suur reede): moves from 17 March to 20 April (always on Friday).

Easter Sunday (ülestõusmispüha): moves from 22 March to 26 April (first full moon Sunday after the spring equinox).

May Day (kevadpüha): 1 May; first a Soviet-imposed Labour Day, when students and public employees were forced to take part in political processions, the importance of the May Day has moved to the preceding night on 30 April. Many Estonians then celebrate the Germanic Walpurgis Night (volbriöö) and dress up as witches and roam the streets. In the university town of Tartu, the mayor gives the power symbolically over to the students, who then gather to student organizations for the following night.

Pentecost (nelipühad): moving from 10 May to 14 June.

Victory Day (võidupüha): 23 June; celebration of the Estonian victory over the Baltic German Landeswehr in the Battle of Paju in 1919. There is usually a smaller military parade somewhere in the country on 23 June.

Midsummer Day or (jaanipäev): 24 June; the summer solstice, which is however celebrated on the previous night on 23 June, on St. John's Eve (jaaniõhtu or jaaniöö). It is recommended to attend the semi-public celebrations in any Estonian village. Most villages and many residents themselves organize large bonfires for the evening. There is also a tradition to jump over the bonfire. In the West Estonian islands, there are sometimes old fishing boats burnt within the bonfires. The sun only sets for a few hours on that night and it never really goes completely dark and many Estonians have the tradition to stay awake at least until sunrise.

Day of Restoration of Independence (taasiseseisvumispäev): 20 August; celebration of the restoration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Christmas (jõulud): from 24 to 26 December; Christmas in Estonia is a mix of Estonian and Western traditions. Celebrating Lutheran Christmas in December instead of Orthodox Christmas in January was forbidden during the Soviet Occupation and Christmas were celebrated in secret. Today it has remained a strictly family holiday.

All national and public holidays are a day off for workers in general, but most convenience stores remain open during regular hours.

Estonia itself is divided into 15 counties (or maakonnad, singular - maakond). However, to bring out the unique characteristics of Estonia, this article shows 4 distinctive regions. As the country is small, most destinations can be reached within a couple of hours from Tallinn.

Regions of Estonia

North EstoniaIt's the most industrialized region with over 1/3 of the population of Estonia. Tallinn, with its nightlife and UNESCO-protected medieval Old Town, is a well-known tourist attraction. Nonetheless, there are many small and beautiful beach villages on the coastline as well (such as Kaberneeme, Laulasmaa, Nõva, Käsmu and Võsu). Furthermore Lahemaa National Park can be reached within an hour from Tallinn.

East EstoniaEast Estonia is as close as you can get to Russia. Seaside resorts, such as Toila and Narva-Jõesuu, are considered to be among the best in Estonia.

Estonians have a special love for nature, and many will tell you that they would rather sit under a tree in an empty forest or hike in a national park than almost anything else. Estonia's tranquil, laidback and unspoiled Baltic islands provide a splendid getaway to nature.

There are no border controls between countries that have signed and implemented this treaty - the European Union (except Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Likewise, a visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. But be careful: not all EU members have signed the Schengen treaty, and not all Schengen members are part of the European Union. This means that there may be spot customs checks but no immigration checks (travelling within Schengen but to/from a non-EU country) or you may have to clear immigration but not customs (travelling within the EU but to/from a non-Schengen country).

A growing number of foreign visitors have been travelling to Estonia in recent years. According to Statistics Estonia [16] the nation's statistics agency, 1.3 million foreigners visited the country in 2000, and that number climbed 38 percent to 1.8 million foreigners by 2005.

Tallinn is Estonia's main international gateway. In addition to direct daily flights to/from all major Scandinavian (Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Oslo) and Baltic cities (Riga and Vilnius), there are direct flights from all major European hubs like London, Paris, Frankfurt, Brussels and Amsterdam and regional hubs like Prague and Warsaw. Eastward connections are from Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kiev. Local carrier Nordic Aviation Group [17] provides half of the services and the rest is provided by Finnair, SAS, Lufthansa, LOT, Air Baltic, Ryanair and others. Easyjet is one of a few low-cost carriers that provide service between Tallinn and major European cities. Travelers can pay as little as EUR 120 (US$160) or £80 Sterling to fly roundtrip from London to Tallinn. From Frankfurt, use Lufthansa. From Helsinki Vantaa airport use Finnair.

Close proximity and excellent ferry services with Helsinki allow for combination of open-jaw air travel. Additionally, even if you are only visiting Estonia, it is frequently still significantly cheaper (particularly on flights from North America) to fly into Helsinki and then take the ferry to Tallinn.

Daily domestic flights are from Tallinn to the islands of Hiiumaa (Kärdla) and Saaremaa (Kuressaare).

Tartu is one of Estonia's oldest towns and a key to South-Eastern regions of Estonia, ancient Russian Pskov or further to Latvia. It has flights from Helsinki.

Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport or Ülemiste Airport[18] (IATA: TLL) (ICAO: EETN), about 5 km from the city center, is increasingly becoming an airport hub of the Baltics. Other major airlines include Finnair, SAS and EasyJet. Bus line 2 runs from the airport to downtown Tallinn and taxis are also available.

Tartu Airport or Ülenurme Airport[19] (IATA: TAY, ICAO: EETU) is 10km from Tartu centre. The airport's bus stop is located in front of the terminal. Bus travels on the route Ülenurme - Tartu City Centre. The bus fare is about €1 and tickets can be bought from the bus driver. There is also the airport shuttle service at 3EUR from/to any location in the city.

Kuressaare Airport[20] (IATA: URE, ICAO: EEKE) is situated 3 km from the town of Kuressaare on Saaremaa island and offers regular flights to Stockholm and domestic flights.

International train services are to/from Russia, Moscow. Domestic services [21] connect Tallinn with Narva in the east and Viljandi in the south, Pärnu in the south-west, Tartu and Valga in the south-east. Baltic Station railway terminal in Tallinn can be used to start your journey. The station can be accessed from town center and vice versa by tram number 2 - use the "Balti jaam" stop. The platform and trains are modern and the fares are reasonable. Free wifi is available on Elron trains.

Lots of good and cheap connections from Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kiev, Kaliningrad, Warsaw, and all larger Baltic and German cities.
The most popular regular service provider is Luxexpress Group [22], others include Ecolines [23] and Hansabuss [24].

Domestic coach companies offer services nationwide. A schedule is available at t-pilet.ee. The most popular route is Tallinn-Tartu, where busses depart at least hourly.

Ferry lines connect Tallinn with Sweden (Stockholm), Finland (Helsinki, Mariehamn) and also with Germany (Rostock) during the summer months. Tallinn-Helsinki is one of the busiest searoutes in Europe and has daily 20 ferry crossings and nearly 30 different fast-boat and hydrofoil crossings (the latter do not operate during winter). For details see Port of Tallinn passenger schedules [25].

Minor international routes include recently re-established connection between Latvia port of Ventspils and the island of Saaremaa and Paldiski - Kapellskär (Sweden) with two different operators.

Estonia's train network is operated by Elron. Tickets can be bought from Elron's website or from the ticket seller aboard the train. The ticket machines one can see on the train still do not work after almost a year since they were fitted (as of 2018-07).

Tallinn -> Lelle -> Pärnu (which will be shut down in 2019, the last stretch is in disrepair and that means very slow speeds of 60 km/h or 2 hours and 34 minutes in total)

Note that:

the train to Viljandi is coupled with the train to Pärnu, which will be unhooked at Lelle. So be sure to get on the right one. Ask the ticket seller if in doubt or check out the screens.

some platforms in smaller settlements are short. So entry and exit will take place from the carriage marked with the letter 'C'. Which is where the toilet and bicycle holders are.

taking a bicycle on the train is free, but depending on the route, the day and the time, all 10 spots could be taken. To avoid standing guard over it, one can use another carriage and using the lock, attach it to a railing near the doors, so it does not fall when the train is braking. But keep in mind if the place you get off has a short platform or not.

Mobile internet sucks in middle of nowhere where the tracks go through, so stick with the (limited) train WiFi. 1st class has it's own, with the password known to the ticket seller or written on the ticket. Different trains can have its WiFi network by the same name and password but are different networks.

Estonia has a comprehensive bus network all over the country. All bigger cities like Tartu, Pärnu, Viljandi and Narva are accessible by bus. Which work fine as long as you want to travel from or to Tallinn. Connections are more coincidental than planned.

There are several websites for bus information:

Tpilet.ee - this shows probably all the departures between bigger towns, but it does not show all inter-county ones. One can buy a ticket there, the website accepts credit cards and payments through bank links of local banks. The FAQ section says which lines accept tickets shown off one's phone, by scanning it's QR code or otherwise.

peatus.ee - fills in some blanks that Tpilet might not show, typically lines between smaller places.

There are also various bus companies that service lines heading outside Estonia as well, such as Eurolines, Lux Express, and surely several others.

As of 2018-07-01 Estonian government made some county lines free of charge, so don't be surprised if the bus driver does not want your money.

Pro-tip: If you want to travel between Pärnu and Haapsalu, then the journey planner on either of those sites does not show all the options. One could either look for departures to and from Lihula, which is between those two and might have a decent connection. Or go through Tallinn, but the journey planner will not tell you, nor will the website of Lux Express, that one can get off and on at Vana-Pääsküla stop, which saves 20 minutes each way. And possibly from having to wait for another trip.

The road system is quite extensive although road quality varies. The speed limit in the countryside is 90 km/h and 50 km/h in the cities unless specified otherwise. Passengers are expected to wear seat belts. Lights must always be switched on.

In the central areas of bigger cities, a fee is levied on parking cars, but finding a provider of tickets is sometimes difficult as mobile parking is widespread.

Estonia has lots of car rental companies and the level of English spoken by their representatives is generally very high. If you go to Level 0 of Tallinn international airport, there are several car rental agency counters.

Car rental in Estonia is very cheap compared to Western Europe. You can get a decent car shared between two people for approximately €10/person/day e.g. a 2004 Fiat Punto.

An excellent day trip is to drive from Tallinn to Tartu. It takes about 2.5 hours each direction.

As of September 3, 2006, the drive from Tallinn to Tartu has been much improved. Outside of Tallinn, it is a two lane paved road with some construction ongoing to upgrade it. It takes two to two and a half hours. There are few sights of interest along the way. The terrain is flat and most of the road is bracketed by a birch tree and a few pines. Sam's Grill (about 1/2 way between Tallinn and Tartu)is recommended as a place to stop. There is a gas station next door.

Driving in Estonia can be more dangerous than in much of Europe and the United States. Some drivers can be aggressive, recklessly overtaking vehicles and traveling at high speed, even in crowed urban areas. The best advice is to drive defensively: don’t assume your fellow drivers will do what you expect them to do, like avoiding overtaking in poor visibility or signal before they merge into your lane.

Estonian laws against driving under the influence of alcohol are strict and follow a policy of zero tolerance. Unfortunately, accidents involving intoxicated drivers are distressingly frequent. DUI checkpoints are not as frequent as could be expected by someone from the West and are usually a part of some nationwide or local campaign, usually after events where alcohol is common. Though keep in mind that if you decide to take a risk and drive drunk Estonians are very good at informing the police about cars that have a weird driving style. Expected to be pulled over soon due to someone getting the authorities to check your sobriety. Trying to go behind the wheel obviously drunk or having open alcohol on you in public often results in concerned citizens intervening.

Texting while driving and calling without a handsfree system are illegal. In fact you technically are not even allowed to have a phone in your hand when behind the wheel. Keep this in mind so that you wouldn't get fined for for example checking your GPS while driving. If you want to use a GPS on your phone, put the phone somewhere so you don't have to touch it during the trip and can safely simply look at it every once in a while. Some car models have a phone in their equipment, you cannot use them too without a handsfree system.

The official language is Estonian which is linguistically very closely related to Finnish, though mutual comprehension greatly depends on the prior experience of communication on both sides; without experience or at least a basic learned knowledge of each others' languages intelligibility between them is for practical purposes zero even for most basic conversations. The people of Tallinn and northern part of the country are normally slightly more skilled to speak or at least understand some Finnish. This is due to heavy tourism and mutual labour crossings between the two countries, and Finnish TV broadcasts from the other side of the gulf, which in the past made it possible for the Estonians to follow free media in the decades of the Soviet occupation.

Russian is by far the most spoken minority language in the country. Russian is the native language of just under half the population of Tallinn, with 66% of Estonians in total having at least some knowledge of the Russian language, though be careful when speaking it (see Respect section below).

English is spoken by around 50% of the population, especially by the youth.

German is taught at school in Estonia, and around 10% of the population can speak it.

In the south you may hear some South Estonian varieties. Võru dialect is the most common, though this is spoken mostly in rural areas and a tourist does not need to have any knowledge of southern varieties unless trying on purpose to impress someone from there. Seto dialect on the other hand, spoken by few thousands in the South-Esternmost corner of the country is more distinct from the Estonian standard, and can make it rather confusing even for the Estonians themselves.

The main reason most people first come to Estonia is to see the best protected and intact medieval city in Europe - Tallinn. The unique value of Tallinn's Old Town lies first and foremost in the well-preserved (intact) nature of its medieval milieu and structure, which has been lost in most of the capitals of northern Europe. Since 1997, the Old Town of Tallinn has been on UNESCO's World Heritage list.

Living under the rule of Scandinavian kings, Russian empire and Teutonic Knights has left Estonia with unique and rich blend of historic landmarks. Over one thousand manors were built across Estonia from the 13th century onwards. Some of the manors have perished or fallen into ruins but a lot have been reconstructed and now are favourite attractions with tourists. Nowadays there are about 200 manor houses[27] under state protection as architectural monuments and 100 in active use.

Estonia has over 1,500 islands. The nature is essentially untouched and offers quite a different beach experience with their remoter rustic feel. Most of the public beaches are sandy and the average water temperature is 18°C in summer. Inland waters and some shallow bays' waters are even warmer.

The largest island is Saaremaa with an intact and well-restored medieval castle in its only city, Kuressaare. Stone fences, thatched roofs, working windmills and home made beer are all distinctive to Saaremaa. Hiiumaa, on the other hand, is well known for its lighthouses, unspoilt nature, the Hill of Crosses and the sense of humour of its inhabitants. Both islands have an airport so they can be quickly reached from Tallinn.

Other important islands include Kihnu, Ruhnu (with its "singing sand" beach), Muhu and Vormsi, each with its own unique characteristics. Most of the other tiny Estonian islands don't carry much cultural significance, but can be appealing for bird watching, canoeing, sailing, fishing etc.

In July and August, Pärnu, Estonia's summer capital, is the main attraction. The coastline itself has loads of untouched beaches and a tour from Narva-Jõesuu (in the East) towards Tallinn is great for exploring the coastline. Some of the well known places include Toila, Võsu, Käsmu and Kaberneeme.

Eesti Laul, Tallinn, [3]. February/March. The national selection process in Estonia for the Eurovision Song Contest, often called the alternative Melodifestivalen. edit

Tallinn Music Week, Tallinn, [4]. Spring. Showcase festival, aiming to stage the best and most outstanding Estonian talent on two nights in Tallinn's most vibrant live venues, as well as a networking event for the music industry professionals.edit

Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar, [5]. April. In addition to Tallinn jazz concerts also take place in Tartu and Pärnu.edit

The Estonian Song Celebration (In Estonian: Laulupidu), [7]. First held in 1869, takes place every five years. In 2009, 35,000 choral singers gathered to perform for an audience of 90,000 people. It is recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.edit

Rabarock ("), Järvakandi, [8]. A 2 day Music festival in Mid-June since 2005.edit

Õllesummer Festival, (Tallinn), [9]. July. Approx 70,000 people attend the festival each year over the course of 4 days.edit

Viljandi Folk Music Festival, Viljandi, [10]. July. Annual folk music festival in a small but picturesque town of Viljandi. Each year the festival draws over 20,000 visitors.edit

Leigo Lake Music Festival, near Otepää, [12]. August. Open-air concerts are held in completely natural venues on the hilly landscapes of the Otepää highland. The musicians' stage is on an island in the lake, surrounded by thousands of listeners on the sloping shore.edit

Birgitta Festival, Tallinn, [13]. August. Music and theatre festival, held at the ruins of the historical Pirita (St. Bridget's) convent.edit

One euro is divided into 100 cents. While each official euro member (as well as Monaco, San Marino and Vatican) issues its own coins with a unique obverse, the reverse, as well as all bank notes, look the same throughout the eurozone. Every coin is legal tender in any of the eurozone countries.

The Estonian kroon (EEK) ceased to be legal tender on January 15, 2011, but any kroons you have left over can be changed into euros at the Bank of Estonia [31] at a fixed rate of 15.6466 kroon to €1.

ATMs and currency exchange offices (valuutavahetus) are widely available. You will get the best rates by exchanging only after arrival in Estonia. Avoid changing money in the airport or port as the rates are lower.

As a small nation, Estonia's souvenir shops are often filled with characteristic items from neighbouring countries, for example with Russian matryoshka dolls or Baltic amber. While both of them are popular among tourists, it is worthwhile to understand that neither of them have any historical or cultural connection with Estonia.

Estonia is generally cheaper than Western Europe, but it is no longer the bargain basement it used to be in 1990s; and in touristy areas (say Tallinn's Old Town), prices are at Scandinavian levels.

In 2019 bottle of local beer (0,5l) costs around 1€ in shops and 2,5-3,5€ in modest pubs. Hard liquor, especially vodka is cheap compared to Western standards, with a 0.5l bottle of local mid-range vodka going for around 10€ in supermarkets, do not be suckered in by that price. Obnoxious drunks in public will spend the night in the slammer.
Food prices are close to Western European standards, usually somewhat cheaper but with some being paradoxically more expensive and can reach Finnish costs. In general Estonia is more expensive than the 2 other Baltic states and far more expensive than Russia.

Estonian food draws heavily from German and Scandinavian cuisine. The closest thing to a national dish is verivorst, black pudding, served with mulgikapsad, which is basically sauerkraut stew.

Many types of food are close to Russian and have their equivalents almost exclusively in the former USSR, such as sour cream hapukoor, smetana in Russian, a sour 20%-fat milk dressing for salads, especially "kartulisalat" or "potato salad", which isn't that rare anywhere else either, really.

As Estonia used to be a food mass-production powerhouse in the times of the USSR, some of its foods, unknown to Westerners, are still well-recognized in the lands of the CIS.

Among other everyday food, some game products are offered in food stores in Estonia, mostly wild boar, elk sausages and deer grill. Some restaurants also offer bear meat.

For those with a sweet tooth, the national chocolate manufacturer is "Kalev", with many specialist stores around the country as well as supermarkets retailing the product.

The more adventurous may want to try "kohuke", a flavoured milk-curd sweet covered with chocolate and available at every supermarket.

Like their neighbours the Finns and the Russians, the Estonians know their alcohol, though unlike in Finland and Sweden alcohol is freely sold in supermarkets 10AM to 10PM. The two largest breweries are Saku[32] and A. Le Coq[33], which both offer a variety of different beers. Recent years have seen a surge in local micro-breweries, the products of which are becoming more and more available in larger shops. Baltic Porters (Põhjala öö, Saku Porter) are strong and heavy dark beers with a touch of caramel to be had in winter.
The best-known local vodka is Viru Valge (Vironian White) [34] and then there's the surprisingly smooth and tasty rum-like herbal liquor Vana Tallinn (Old Tallinn) [35], famous in the countries of former USSR. Gin long drink, famous in Finland, a concoction of some juices and some alcohol, usually dry gin but can even be low quality apple wine in cheaper brands, is also quite popular.

A local soft drink is "Kali" (the Estonian equivalent of "kvass"), made from fermented brown bread. It can be described as an acquired taste. For authentic experience one should not buy the common Linnuse kali as this is little more than kvass flavored soda, though real kvass is likely Russian or Ukrainian in origin. Very few people still make their own kvass even in the countryside.

Many locals also swear by "keefir", a fermented milk concoction. Buttermilk (pett) is common.

Number of hotels has exploded from few to tens and hundreds after Estonia restored independence. In 2004, Tallinn achieved first place among the Baltic Sea cities in the number of overnight stays in hotels, though still behind Stockholm and Helsinki in the number of total overnight stays.
A list of bigger hotels as well as some restaurants and nightclubs could be found at Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association[36].

As Soviet collective farms were disbanded, many farmers switched to running "turismitalud," or tourism farms, which are inexpensive and indispensable places for spending holidays in nature, usually in a former farm house. A site on Estonian Rural Tourism[37] provides information on the tourism farms in Estonia. Hostels are a another popular option for budget-sensitive travellers; see the website of the Estonian Youth Hostel Association: [38]. You may find lot of beautiful manor houses in Estonia, where you may have a delicious meal in restaurant or stay in comfortable hotel. One hour drive from Tallinn you may find Palmse Manor, Vihula Manor, Sagadi Manor, Kau Manor

The official tourism site Visitestonia.com [39] also has information and listings about B&B accommodation, youth hostels, camping and caravan sites etc.

Estonia has a fair amount of foreign students studying in its universities, especially from Nordic countries, as Estonian diplomas are recognized throughout the EU. See the articles for university town Tartu and capital Tallinn for details.

No obstacles exist to citizens of EEA countries to come to invest and work in Estonia. Citizens of developed non-EU countries are exempt from short-term tourist visas. Swedes and Finns have by far the largest working community of post-Soviet foreigners in Estonia. Estonia may have had rocketlike growth in recent years, but only from a very low base as a former Soviet republic, and average local monthly salary (2019) hovers around 1000-1200 EUR after taxes, a princely sum compared to the rest of the former USSR except the other Baltic countries but not a very attractive wage for a westerner. Unskilled laborers, especially retail workers, often struggle to hit 4 figures per month especially outside major cities.

Education is highly valued in Estonia because as a small nation with no exceptional natural resources, they believe that the only way to be competitive is to absorb knowledge. There are so many highly educated people in Estonia that it is a problem in the labour market - there aren't enough workers for jobs that require minimal education. Recently a lot of blue-collar workers, especially in construction, have also left for Finland due to better pay making the situation even worse and making it attractive for companies to hire (often illegally) people from other parts of Eastern Europe.

Considerable investments and some workers are constantly coming from CIS countries, though significant legal restrictions are imposed.

Police and Border Guard Board[40] is the authority responsible for dealing with the paperwork.

CV Online[41] is one of the oldest Estonian recruitement and HR services operating in 9 countries (as of 2005).

The published crime rate increased dramatically in 1991-1994 after democratic freedoms were introduced. In a large part, this is due to the fact that crime was a taboo subject before 1991, as Soviet propaganda needed to show how safe and otherwise good it was. The murder rate per 100,000 inhabitants, as recently as 2019, was some 2 times higher than in Sweden and Finland, although still significantly lower than in its biggest neighbour, Russia. In general, Estonia is a bit more dangerous than most Western countries, but even the worst neighborhoods do not come close to a place like Detroit for example. Threat of terrorism is practically zero. The Islands in particular are very safe.

Today, the official sources claim that the country has achieved a considerable reduction in crime in the recent years. According to Overseas Security Advisory Council crime rate in 2007 was quite comparable to the other European states including Scandinavia. Criminal activities are distributed unevenly across the territory with almost no crime in the island areas and a considerable rate of drug dealing in the predominantly Russian-speaking industrial area of North-East. In Tallinn, petty crime is a problem and there are some incidents involving tourists, mainly pickpocketing (especially in the markets). Tallinn Old City and other main tourist attractions are closely watched by local police and private security companies.

In conclusion, Estonia is not the safest place in the world but using your wits lets you avoid any trouble. It is certainly no longer experiencing pretty much anarchy as it was in the early 90s when the transition to democracy and independence happened.

Many Estonians drive carelessly, with about 60 to 80 people killed and 1000 people injured per year. This statistic is quite depressing considering Estonia's population is around 1.3 million people, which is less than on the island of Manhattan. Traffic culture is nowhere as bad as in Egypt for example, where pretty much anything goes on the roads, but people not used to weird maneuvers on congested city streets and careless overtaking on the roads should pay close attention to the traffic. The number of deaths in traffic related accidents per 100 000 people are similar to South-European countries like Portugal or Italy. Estonia has strict drink-driving laws with a policy of zero tolerance, but accidents involving intoxicated drivers are nevertheless a major problem. One-use chemical breathalyzers can be bought from gas stations and some shops for around 2-3€ but can fail to detect very minute traces of alcohol, for example the night before, but it is still enough to get you into serious trouble if caught. Estonian traffic laws requires headlight use at all times while driving and use of seatbelts by all passengers is mandatory.

Recently, Estonia enforced a new law requiring pedestrians to wear small reflectors, which people generally pin to their coats or handbags. Although this law is rarely enforced in cities, reflectors are very important in rural areas where it may be difficult for motorists to see pedestrians, especially in winter months. Violators of this law may be subject to a fine of around €30-50, or a higher fine up to around €400-500 if the pedestrian is under the influence of alcohol (Estonian law applies fines of around 10 times higher than usual for all traffic violations done under the influence). Reflectors are inexpensive and you should be able to find them at many supermarkets, kiosks, and other shops.

The Estonian police are very effective and they are not corrupt as opposed to neighboring Russia or Latvia.

The main advice to anyone worried about personal security is to stay reasonably sober despite tempting alcohol prices. When driving, make sure you have had absolutely no alcohol beforehand.

For emergencies call 112.

It has been mentioned that ordinary Estonians are unlikely to approach a complete stranger or a tourist on their own. If somebody suddenly turns to you in the street (with questions or matters of small business) keeping a cautious eye on your belongings would be wise.

Drugs are generally not tolerated in Estonia with the younger (30 and under) generation only recently having opened up to the prospect of marijuana legalization, though the situation is not as bad as in Sweden and younger people will likely not ostracize you for using soft drugs occasionally. Mentioning hard drug use is not wise, remember that Estonia has the highest overdose death rates in Europe and in bigger cities practically everyone knows somebody who has died of drugs, especially strong synthetic opiates. Heavy fines in the thousands of € can be expected if caught, though first time offenders can escape with a fine in the low hundreds. Trafficking will likely result in prison time followed by deportation. Whether Estonia informs one's home country of their crime or if one can be charged if it can be conclusively proven that the drugs were used outside Estonia is unclear.

Open homosexuality may be met with stares, violence is very rare but it is wise to refrain from open displays of affection near drunk people and ethnic Russians, who tend to be far more homophobic than modern Estonians. Gay clubs exist in bigger cities. The civil partnership act was adopted in 2016.

For an Estonian, it is considered "mauvais ton" not to criticize the Estonian healthcare system. Recent EU studies showed, however, that Estonia occupies a healthy 4th place in the block by the basic public health service indicators, on the same level as Sweden. In fact, around 1998-2000, the Estonian healthcare system was remodeled from the obsolete USSR model, directed to coping with disastrous consequences of large-scale war and made more up-to-date by the experts from Sweden. Estonia has harmonized its rules on travelers' health insurance with EU requirements.

Ticks in Estonia carry tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease, if you plan to spend time in Estonian nature during tick season you should consider vaccination against encephalitis. If you find a tick has latched itself onto your body consider going to a clinic especially if unvaccinated and absolutely if you develop any symptoms- these diseases can have serious lifelong consequences and Lyme disease, while rare to develop, has no vaccine. Estonia has the European Adder as the only venomous snake species, a bite does require medical attention but afterwards is almost never fatal. Wolves have not attacked people in Estonia in more than a century. Lynx and bears are rarely seen as they will generally scarper if they hear a human approaching. If you are unlucky enough to startle a bear, remember the general guidelines when encountering the animal.

Estonia is rabies free but neighboring Russia is not. It is always wise to be safe and visit the hospital any time an animal (or should it happen, a human) bites you. Animals do not care much for national borders and it is possible, if unlikely, that a rabid animal crosses from Russia into Estonia. Even if not rabid, animals generally have poor oral hygiene and the bite can get infected with various other diseases.

Tap water is drinkable everywhere unless in the rare cases a sign has been posted that it is not.

For ambulance, police, rescue or in case of fire dial 112. You will be answered in Estonian and they are legally required to have a Russian speaker at hand, but most can respond in English too.

Estonia has Europe's highest rate of adult HIV/AIDS infections, currently over 1.3% or 1 in 77 adults. Generally, the rate is much higher in Russian-speaking regions like Narva or Sillamäe. Don't make the situation worse by not protecting yourself and others.

Information about health care in Estonia is provided by the government agency Eesti Haigekassa.

It's easy to mistake Estonians somewhat rude, depressed and unwelcoming, due to the fact that they can be very direct and that small talk generally doesn't come easy. This is just a matter of culture. Don't expect them to deliver too many social niceties or small talk, Estonians only say what's seasonable. It's uncommon for people to chit-chat with strangers wherever they go, including on the bus. Once the ice is broken, you will find them open and candid.

Estonians respect physical distance. The most common greeting is a handshake. Hugs are exchanged between family members and close friends.

Estonians thrive themselves on a strong work ethic and do what they say. At the same time they expect others to keep their word. Friendships and acquaintances for this reason are highly valued, and just like in Latvia and Lithuania, friendship is something that develops in the long term.

Due to a lack of immigration, modern Estonia, especially rural parts, is a very homogenous society. If you are a non-white traveller do not be surprised (or alarmed) if some people stare at you as they may have never seen someone of your complexion before. This is no longer a problem in the capital and in Tartu, with both having a fair amount of foreign students and even immigrants. In the latter, seeing a non-white person is practically an everyday occurrence and you will have no problems fitting in.

Always deliver a simple apology even for being a few minutes late to an appointment. Punctuality is a norm and is much appreciated.

Do not raise your voice in a conversation. A decent silent conversation is the Estonian way of doing business. For similar reasons, don't be surprised if an Estonian responds back in a few moments; They prefer to listen more than they like to speak.

Avoid asking personal questions and don't be offended if nobody inquires about your family or personal life. Privacy is highly valued in Estonia, and engaging in probing behaviours like asking them about their salaries and so forth is a quick way to make Estonians lose their respect and appreciation for you. Avoid bragging about your accomplishments and desires; modesty is a virtue.

Do not haggle. Haggling shows disrespect to a vendor or seller and it is important to note that all prices at stores and markets are fixed and will not change.

Use compliments sparingly. Like in several European Nations, hurling too many compliments at someone is considered superficial behaviour and Estonians in general would get offended if you choose to shower them with compliments. Just deliver the simple niceties like "Nice Sweater" and so on, and move on.

If you are invited to an Estonian home, always remove your shoes. Bringing a small gift such as pastry, wine, or flowers to the host is appreciated.

Contemporary history may be a complicated subject. Estonia`s stance on their history with the USSR is emotional because the country suffered greatly due to the 50 years of Soviet occupation. However, Estonians are usually open to share the experience of the era if easily asked, this is by no means a no-go-zone in conversations. Just be aware of the tragic events of history that led the previously prosperous country into the 50 years of repression.

Around a quarter of Estonia's population is Russian-speaking with high concentration in the capital, Tallinn, and in the North-East of Estonia. Make sure that you understand whom you are addressing - remember that due to historical reasons a foreigner who initiates a conversation in Russian may get a frosty reception from some Estonians. If you speak Russian, it is wise to try and start the conversation in some other language and use Russian if they are clearly comfortable with speaking it.

Mobile access is available everywhere, even on the smaller islands and at sea

Prepaid (pay-as-you-go) SIM cards and their top up cards can be bought from R-kiosks (ask for a "kõnekaart" - calling card in English). Popular brands are Smart, Simpel, Diil and Zen. Start-up packages are in a range of €1,55-€10.

Pay phones are virtually extinct, do not expect to find one on your travels. If you need for some reason to buy a mobile phone when already in Estonia cheaper 'dumb' phones can be bought new for as little as 15 euros. Use a kõnekaart to start making calls as described above.